Wireless device management based on a network initiated policy and/or charge change

Abstract

Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a wireless device and a Policy Control and Charging (PCC) based node, and methods therein, for managing an operating system and/or application behavior based on an indication of a network initiated policy and/or charge change. Thus, based on an indication of such a change, an applications behavior may be modified accordingly. Examples of such modification comprise initiating or restriction a communication with the network. Examples of a network initiated policy and/or charge change comprise a start or end to a non-metered connection or a change in a QoS level.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, in a wireless device, for managing an operating system and/or application behavior based on an indication of a network initiated policy and/or charge change, the wireless device being configured for use in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 receiving, in a mobile terminating connectivity layer, a message originated from a Policy Control and Charging, PCC, based node; 
 determining the message comprises the indication of the network initiated policy and/or charge change; 
 forwarding the message to an operating system and/or application layer; and 
 modifying an application behavior in the operating system and/or application layer based on the indication, 
 wherein the network initiated policy and/or charge change comprises a start or stop of a non-metered connection. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network initiated policy and/or charge change further comprises a change in a Quality of Service. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving further comprises receiving the message via user plane data. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the receiving further comprises receiving the message via a short message service. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication is an information element in the form of a Quality of Service information element, a Network Name information element, or a Protocol Configuration Option, PCO. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying further comprises initiating a communication with the network. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying further comprises, restricting a communication with the network. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of the network initiated policy and/or charge change is application specific. 
     
     
       9. A wireless device for managing an operating system and/or application behavior based on an indication of a network initiated policy and/or charge change, the wireless device being configured for use in a wireless communications network, the wireless device comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive, in a mobile terminating connectivity layer, a message originated from a Policy Control and Charging, PCC, based node; 
 a processing unit configured to determine the message comprises the indication of the network initiated policy and/or charge change; 
 the processing unit further configured to forward the message to an operating system and/or application layer; and 
 the processing unit configured to modify an application behavior in the operating system and/or application layer based on the indication, 
 wherein the network initiated policy and/or charge change comprises a start or stop of a non-metered connection. 
 
     
     
       10. The wireless device of  claim 9 , wherein the network initiated policy and/or charge change further comprises a change in a Quality of Service. 
     
     
       11. The wireless device of  claim 9 , wherein the receiving unit is further to receive the message via user plane data. 
     
     
       12. The wireless device of  claim 9  wherein the receiving unit is further configured to receive the message via a short message service. 
     
     
       13. The wireless device of  claim 9 , wherein the indication is an information element in the form of a Quality of Service information element, a Network Name information element, or a Protocol Configuration Option, PCO. 
     
     
       14. The wireless device of  claim 9 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to modify the application via having the application initiate a communication with the network. 
     
     
       15. The wireless device of  claim 9 , wherein the process unit is further configured to modify the application via having the application restrict a communication with the network. 
     
     
       16. The wireless device of  claim 9 , wherein the indication of the network initiated policy and/or charge change is application specific.